August 2016

At Maddie’s Fund, we strongly support strong "safety net” or "pet retention” programs that provide assistance to keep pets in their homes. Although a growing number of shelters and rescue organizations are implementing such efforts, there are times when remaining in their home is not an option.

To what extent can the pet guardians themselves be part of the "rehoming” process? What kind of support from shelters or rescue organizations makes it more likely they’ll take on at least some of the responsibility to find a new home? Can this happen without having the pet step foot into the shelter?

Our principle aim in conducting this study was to assess:

The prevalence of ‘pet rehoming’ assistance programs and efforts.

The perceptions of ‘pet rehoming’ as a strategy to decrease the number of pets entering shelters.

The extent to which organizations support or encourage pet owners to find rehoming resolutions on their own.

The types of assistance or tools provided by organizations to pet owners looking to rehome.